Magic Players and Coaches Give Back

Apopka’s Lee Lopez looked on from afar as his kids, 17-year-old Brandon and 6-year-old Lee Ann, playfully got involved in a snowball fight with Orlando Magic players Dwight Howard, Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass, and Lopez summed up the joy of watching his family smile and have an all-around fun day.

“This is one of the nicest events that I’ve ever been a part of,’’ gushed Lopez, who attended a Christmas party put on by the Magic’s players and coaches for 42 families affiliated with the Apopka Family Learning Center. “This is just what it’s all about, guys like these players giving back to the community. It’s just a great gesture by them.’’

The Magic’s players, coaches and basketball operations staff donated approximately $30,000 to fund a party in which the 42 local families were given a large box of toys and supplies for the kids and adults. And then, just as the families thought that the Magic players had left the event, the players returned with shiny new bicycles under their arms for all of the children.

Even the most hardened competitors on the basketball court might have grown a bit misty-eyed on Tuesday watching the joyous smiles of kids getting presents and bicycles on what might have otherwise been a lean holiday season.

“We live a good lifestyle and God has blessed us with most of the things that we have ever desired materialistically. But to be able to give back to those who are a little less fortunate, it’s such a really good feeling for us,’’ said Magic guard Anthony Johnson, one of the fourth-quarter heroes of Monday’s win against the Utah Jazz. “We’re just out here trying to spread some cheer and brighten the holidays.’’

Tuesday normally would have been a day the Magic (21-7) would have been preparing for tonight’s home game against the Houston Rockets. And in years past that workout would have been followed by a team Christmas party in which players would have traded gifts among themselves.

But the team ultimately found something inherently wrong with that, especially in a time when so many families are in need because of the nation’s depressed economy. So an idea was born to take the money normally used on the team party and instead put it toward a party for families in need of some holiday cheer.

Magic general manager Otis Smith said nothing was budgeted for the party, so he started going around to all of the players two weeks ago for donations to fund the party. The generosity from the players and staff amazed Smith, so much so that the party even exceeded the team’s expectations, Smith said.

“I think there’s something a little off about a party where millionaires are buying gifts for other millionaires, especially when there are so many people in need,’’ said J.J. Redick, who had a bicycle under each arm during the end of the party. “I don’t think you can underestimate the impact of an act of kindness and the impact that it can have on a person. Doing stuff like this is something that we enjoy, but it’s also a necessity.’’

Redick is as well-read as any player on the Magic, and he knows the impact that the country’s recession has had on unemployment rates and home foreclosure surges in Central Florida.

The tough times have hit home for Redick, who said he’s felt a greater need than ever to try and assist the community in whatever way he can. He and Anderson took 50 youth from the Children’s Home Society on a shopping spree at Target. Each child was given a $100 gift card courtesy of the two Magic players and Redick said the event, “could not have gone any better.’’

“Just in my case I can remember our family having five kids and my dad was unemployed one Christmas and it was a rough Christmas,’’ Redick remembered. “There are a lot of people all over the country and all over Central Florida experiencing tough times right now and anything that we can do to help is great.’’

And the entire Magic team tried to do their part on Tuesday at the party for the families from the Apopka Learning Center, a facility that helps families with vital issues of education, literacy, parenting skills, health care and money management.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy wore a Santa hat with a full beard and mustache attached to it. Mickael Pietrus drew sketches of kids and showed such a knack for it that Van Gundy complimented him on his artistic touch. “So can I draw up my own play now?’’ Pietrus jokingly asked his coach.

Matt Barnes painted faces, Johnson and Jameer Nelson assisted with the decoration of stockings and Rashard Lewis helped to make snow cones. Patrick Ewing, all 7-foot-1 of him, stood at the rim with his arms outstretched and tried blocking shots as at least eight kids fired up shots at him.

And then there was Howard, Bass, Anderson and Barnes engaged in the good-natured snowball fight with icy “snow’’ provided by a machine that blew the white stuff high into the air. Quite frankly, it was difficult to tell who had more fun – the kids or the Magic’s players.

“Quite honestly, we get as much or more out of it than the families do I think. Being around all of these kids is just a lot of fun for us,’’ Van Gundy said through his snow-white Santa beard. “We’re just very fortunate to be around these great families and kids. To see all of these families come and have fun and be a part of their Christmas is really great.’’

By: John Denton for Orlando Magic